Discovery Expands International Rollout of Investigation Discovery with Launch in Russia

(London, England) Discovery Networks EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa), a division of the number-one nonfiction media company Discovery Communications, today announced that Investigation Discovery (ID), a 24-hour investigation channel, will launch in Russia in April 2009. This marks the first continental European launch for ID, which rolled out in the UK in January 2009 following its US debut in January 2008.

“The European rollout of ID demonstrates Discovery’s commitment to delivering a broad range of programming and services that satisfy the curiosity of diverse audiences and strengthen the pay TV landscape across EMEA,” said Arthur Bastings, EVP and Managing Director, Discovery Networks EMEA.

Offering a compelling line-up of investigative programming from the United States and around the world, Investigation Discovery focuses on the science of forensics and how it is used to unlock the real-life stories behind some of the world’s most fascinating investigations. The network uses dramatic, fact-based storytelling to provide in-depth analysis of investigations along with first-hand testimony from experts who uncover the evidence, methods and motives. Targeted to adults 25 – 54 with a strong female skew, ID Russia will be fully customized in Russian and will launch with programs including SOLVED, a journey inside elite police investigative units, and WICKED ATTRACTION, a series that follows forensic psychologists and criminal profilers as they reveal the stories behind people driven by love to commit murder.

International consumer interest in investigative and forensics programming is on the rise. According to internal research conducted by Discovery Networks EMEA, this genre is one of the most popular among adults and 48% of adult viewers across Europe like to watch investigative programs based on real events and crimes.

ID will be the seventh Discovery brand to launch in Russia. Discovery currently offers six channels in the market including flagship brand Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Discovery Science, Discovery HD, Discovery World and Discovery Travel & Living.

Launched in the U.S. on January 27, 2008, Investigation Discovery is the destination for fact-based investigative content about culture, history and the human condition from the past to the present. Featuring core series including CALL 911, DATELINE ON ID, SOLVED and EXTREME FORENSICS, since its launch, ID is the fastest growing network among the target audience of W25-54 in all of ad-supported cable.*

About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world’s number-one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries. Discovery empowers people to explore their world and satisfy their curiosity through 100-plus worldwide networks, led by Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Discovery Science and Discovery HD, as well as leading consumer and educational products and services and a diversified portfolio of digital media services including HowStuffWorks.com. In Europe, the Middle East and Africa, 13 Discovery brands reach 200 million cumulative subscribers in 103 countries with programming customized in 24 languages.

*(Source: Nielsen, Live + Same Day, NHI calendar, Time Period Based Dayparts, Jan. 2008-Jan. 2009, Prime, W25-54 (000) vs. same number of weeks year ago)